QB INJURY DOESN`T EVEN SLOW CONANT DOWN

Most football coaches would cringe when their starting quarterback goes down.

But that was not the case for Conant`s Dave Pendergast, who watched his backup quarterback, Zack Doan, lead the visiting Cougars to a 32-0 victory over Mid-Suburban South foe Hoffman Estates Saturday.

''We`re confident with Zack in there,'' said Pendergast, who took out starter Brett Sharkey (rib injury) on Conant`s second possession. ''He`s a talented kid. I`m sure he wasn`t thinking that he`d be getting a lot of playing time in a tight game like this, but he stepped up and did a super job.''

Conant (5-3, 3-0) grabbed sole possession of first place in the MSL South. Hoffman Estates (5-3, 2-1) fell to second.

Doan (3 of 4, 24 yards, two TDs) entered with a 7-0 lead. On his third play, Tony Carlson dived into the end zone from 2 yards out for a 13-0 lead. Sharkey had the first score, capping a 60-yard drive with a 1-yard keeper on the Cougars` first possession.

''The (offensive) line is really experienced,'' said Doan, a junior.

''Most of them are seniors. Plus when you have backs like Carlson and Eric

(Refvik), it`s easy to feel comfortable out there.''

Carlson and Refvik would make anyone feel comfortable. They combined for 119 of Conant`s 135 first-quarter yards.

Carlson finished with 83 yards on 17 carries and two touchdowns. Refvik totaled 89 yards on 12 carries and also snared a 5-yard TD pass from Doan.

''The game plan was to just run it down their throat,'' Carlson said.

''We did a lot of no-huddle plays at the start, and I think that threw them off a little.''

''Before the game, Coach Pendergast stressed the importance of the offensive line,'' Refvik added. ''Hoffman`s defensive line is real quick and strong and we had to break out of the trenches.

''The offensive line got real fired up, kept pushing Hoffman back and got some lucky traps. When they were slanting, our offensive line opened up some big holes and that`s why we were able to get 135 yards in the first quarter.'' But the Cougars` defense can`t be forgotten either, holding the Hawks`

ground game to minus-1 yard and setting up the first two scores of the second half.

Defensive back Brian Dustin set the first one up with an 11-yard interception return on Hoffman`s third play following intermission. Three plays later, Doan connected with Refvik.

''I just got a good read and a good break on the ball,'' Dustin said.

On the second play of the Hawks` next possession, the Cougars recovered a botched snap at the Hawks` 19. This time Conant needed four plays before Carlson scored from the 1 for a 25-0 advantage with 5:21 remaining in the third quarter.

''The defense was fantastic,'' Pendergast said. ''We contained a great runner in Jason Kent (minus-3 yards on 10 carries) and we were able to capitalize on those early second-half turnovers. . . . That really put the game away.''

Added Refvik: ''I can`t say enough good things about (the defense). Hoffman got a few passes early on, but the line adjusted right away to it.''

Doan rounded out the scoring with a 5-yard pass to Tom Cappelen with 1:40 left in the third.